31Postal voting

31 Postal voting

(1) Subject to subrule (8), the following requirements for postal voting must be substantially given effect:

(a) the elector must show his or her unsigned postal voter card and unmarked postal ballot‑paper to an authorised witness;

(b) the elector must sign the postal voter card in the presence of the authorised witness;

(c) the authorised witness must:

(i) sign the postal voter card as an authorised witness; and

(ii) write the date of the witnessing;

(d) the elector must mark his or her vote on the ballot‑paper in the presence of the authorised witness but so that the witness cannot see the vote, fold the ballot‑paper, place it in the envelope addressed to the Returning Officer and seal the envelope;

(e) the elector must have the postal voter card certified by:

(i) an Aboriginal person or a Torres Strait Islander who is an office‑bearer of an Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander Corporation; or

(ii) a member of the staff of the TSRA;

to the effect that the elector is an Aboriginal person or a Torres Strait Islander;

(f) the elector must enclose the following documents (the postal voting papers) in the outer envelope:

(i) the envelope containing the ballot‑paper;

(ii) the postal voter card;

(g) subject to subrule (6), the elector must post or deliver the outer envelope containing the postal voting papers to the Returning Officer.

(2) A person who is a candidate at an election must not certify a postal voter card under paragraph (1) (e).

(3) If the elector cannot read, or is so disabled that he or she is unable to vote without assistance, a person chosen by the elector may, according to the directions of the elector:

(a) complete the postal voter card for him or her; and

(b) do for the elector any act required by paragraph (1) (d), (e) or (f).

(4) Directions under subrule (3) may be given by reference to a how‑to‑vote card.

(5) In the case of a ballot‑paper that:

(a) if posted before the close of a poll — would be unlikely to reach the Returning Officer within 6 days after polling day; or

(b) if delivered to the Returning Officer — would be unlikely to reach him or her before the close of the poll;

the elector may take the steps set out in subrule (6).

(6) For subrule (5), the elector may:

(a) before the close of the poll:

(i) address the postal voting papers to the Returning Officer; and

(ii) send the papers to the officer; or